As a '95 it surprises nobody that it's a below average show, but this is known for two rarities: It's All Too Much (1st of 7, but played better in July) and Visions of Johanna (six were played in '95 after being put to bed in '86). The latter is the show highlight, possibly the best they ever nailed it. It energizes Jer, who then pops awake for Saturday Night (which features prime Vince). Rain is decent enough; good endings make good impressions! The rest just is.

This is the middle of the 3 final shows at one of the famed symbiotic venues. Other than the prime Visions of Johanna and a solid Saturday Night, this is a one-star show. Hearing Visions (the wimpiest song on Blonde) in show context adds nothing over hearing it on Fallout. It's perplexing that some people hear a 5-star show, one that rivals or surpasses anything from '77, '72, '87 or '90, but to each their own. Some people enjoy Durian and Haggis. Make up your own mind, but this is not even close to being one of the all-time best shows (nor even the top 10 of '95). The previous night is the best of this run and the following night is known for the premier of Unbroken Chain.

1st Set:  D
2nd Set: C-
Overall = 1½ stars

SOURCES: Charlie's a freaking trooper for doing this one; we are the beneficiaries (the Ladner source is similar in quality). Visions of Johanna is on Fallout from Phil (but sounds better here). glen1 wrote a grate review (below).

The Dead were always gracious to honor a ticket request, they came through, this was sadly to be my last raod trip to see them, my birthday as well, 10th row, Phil's side. A great night!
Thanks for all the wonderful memories!

Yep, it's a good one. Play just this track for a regular average deadhead and it would be tough to place this at '95, unless you know the show. It has Jer singing with the confidence of a young man, navigating through Dylan's tune as soulfully and easy as you please. Jewels and binoculars, indeed.

decent show. West LA thru Toms Thumbs is a pretty good chunk. Jerry seems to be in good spirits. After Ramble On Rose Weir makes a joke about it being both drummers birthdays, Jerry remarks "Its also happens to be Bob Weirs birthday tonight". As we all know from listening to thousands of tapes on here Jerry more or less rarely spoke on stage. Its always Weir doin all the yappin so when Jerr makes a joke to the audience you can assume he must be feelin good. Weir also contributes some good rhythm guitar licks throughout this show, notably on Ramble On Rose. overall its a decent show. the real highlight is visions of johanna.

I saw Visions of Johanna in '86 twice, so how was this only 1 of 2 played? (See review below). Also with regard to the time signature changes in Ramble On Rose and Tennesse Jed-there are none! As for this show it is as bad as I remember and one of the worst I ever saw!

how I saw a show after the series of stinkers I saw in 92 is way beyond me.

these shows were among the worst I ever saw, of any band. sorry but they were. had to listen in for a few moments just to feel the pain again. Mickey put away the F-ing bone, Please!

after seeing the band in the 80's into the corking summer 90 tour, it was all down hill from there.

This show was ok...that`s it,all except for when Jerry trickled out,"Visions of Johanna."This rendition,1 of only 2 ever,was so good!Jerry nailed it....(and I do know all the lyrics,they`re no harder than any other song.)..but Jer hit all the right notes,at the right times during this one and when He had finished,the grin on His face,told you that He knew that He had just blown our minds!..I only wish that all His ballads were as crisp and lyrically correct as Visions was that night...but I still love Him and miss Him,oh so much!

Another top notch transfer by Mr. Miller. 5 stars for sound quality, and 5 for performance. Vince shines on It's All Too Much, and be sure to check out Space- that's right, Space. One of the best ever.

I was at the show and here's the review I wrote that night:

Philly Spectrum
Saturday, March 18

SUMMARY:

1) It's All Too Much
2) Mean people suck!

First, the usual disclaimer -- I was sitting fourth row center tonight. I mention this, again, not to brag, but for two specific reasons: one is that being that close definitely affects your opinion of the show; the second is in the interest of "equal time"; I got this swell seat from GDTS -- I don't know anyone there, and my order was not unusual in any way (GDTS has been trashed a lot recently for poor ticket selection.)

ANYWAY...

Life on tour is hell -- Bobby comes on stage with his arms out in front of him like a sleep-walking zombie!

Hell in a Bucket was fine to open; or at least as fine as it usually is. Followed by major tech problems, with Parish and Jerry kneeling behind Jerry's stack, shaking his guitar upside down. Bobby jokes about something that MIGHT have implied that they were trying to get the pick out of the inside of the guitar! Much time passes. Bobby tells us that it's Bill's birthday. Or maybe he said that it's BOTH of the drummers birthdays. Not true in either case, and brings back memories of the good old days. I hate to be a whiner (yet I do it so well...) but with Jerry's guitar down for so long, I wish those incredibly talented musicians on stage had done SOMETHING, even if it was just off the cuff noodling. Bobby! Tell us the yellow dog joke!

West L.A. Fadeaway, followed by El Paso with the acoustic. For the first time all night Jerry looks pleased and semi-awake. Follows up with a scorching Ramble on Rose that has a great jam with shifting time signatures (do I have ANY idea of what I'm talking about?) a la Tennessee Jed. The crowd yells for Phil to do something, and Phil mutters, "How do you know WHAT I'll do?" before launching into an up-tempo Just Like Thom Thumb's Blues. Jackaroe is fine, and Promised Land scorches (i.e., Jerry stays awake for the entire song.)

Dose dog behind me during intermission keeps screaming for Jerry, so I keep screaming for Jorma. (Hot fuckin' Tuna!) If you haven't been recently, the crowd in the first few rows is pretty weird -- they all seem to know each other, they all seem to have some sort of secret ticket connections within the band, and they all seem bored out of their minds. During the space tonight (which I love!) one guy is screaming, "Let's go! It's too long!" So THIS is where the intelligentsia hang out!

(And, as an aside to all my moaning in last night's post about feeling old at the show, now I know where all the old deadheads have gone -- they're all behind the soundboard in the tapers section with all manner of microphones, cables, batteries, flashlights, flight jackets, road cases, etc. etc. Now I don't want to complain about the good folk who bring us all those great tapes, but, personally, I DON'T WANT TO BE A TAPER! I'M A DANCER, NOT A TAPER! EVERYONE MY AGE IS TAPING! HELP! But I digress...)

Second set opens with The Beatle's It's All Too Much, sung by Vince. I'm sure it's been played before, but someone please tell me when. It was great, and a terrific surprise!

Iko Iko follows. A pretty pedestrian version in my book... until the end. Jerry latches on to the chorus and won't let go! He keeps singing it over and over, louder, more guitar... Bobby looks worried and the crowd goes nuts.

Playing in the Band starts fine and leads into a terrific jam -- really first-class Grateful Dead musicianship before settling in nicely into Uncle John's Band. A different transition here, and a different jam at the end of Uncle John's -- not the usual big crescendo. Bobby is dripping sweat so much from his head that I worry that he is about to fall over. He doesn't look happy at all, and his voice is good but a long way from its potential greatness.

Jerry has so many cords leading to his guitar (I counted four) that when it's time to leave for the drums he turns to Parish and throws his hands up. "Mr. Wizard... get me outta here!"

The drums/space were terrific! Really interesting sounds leading to a wonderful funk jam -- VAGUELY reminiscent of the old Dancin' In the Streets circa late '70s, or when Shakedown was played with more of a disco beat. The closest the Dead have come in my experience to House music. Excellent! Vince is key during the space, and throughout the evening. This guy deserves more credit.

The Last Time rocks. Visions of Joanna (sp?) is wonderful. Nice to see that Jerry has that TelePrompTer (I guess) because this song has a million words, and I'm not sure ANYONE could remember them all. The song was beautiful, but from where I was (up close) I could make out very few of the actual lyrics. Either Jerry is mumbling, the sound is weak, I'm going deaf, or all three.

One More Saturday Night. Yay! Again, rocks pretty hard. Jaded folks start to walk out (of third row seats????) and miss a truly splendiferous version of Rain to end the show. (Lucy in the Sky last night; Rain tonight. Are all you folks who complained about Liberty and I Fought the Law taking note?

So much for my brief sojourn to the front of the stage. See you all BEHIND the stage tomorrow night, where the sound may actually be better, and the Deadheads may actually be nicer!

Love

GG

I keep waiting for Charlie Miller to invite us over to his house for a month or so but it never happens.

I have had an inferior (compared to this) board of this show since '96 and was actually listening to it today! I haven't played any '95 in about two or three years after going hogwild on it, in my desire to "hear" what was going down---and I mean down. But I'm hooked on Drums from this year and after having Mickey and Billy do my head in last week I felt it was time to investigate these shows again. I actually like a few shows from '95 Spring tour and this is one of them.

The Iko is worth the price of entry and this recording is superb in the best Charlie fashion.
If you really hate this era, and I know some of you do, I figure you've all done your pissing on it and have moved on. SO! for the curious, check out the It's All Too Much breakout (not too bad)and then dig the great Iko. Then, if you like, move on.

You can hear Jer struggle with the Uncle John's break but I don't care. The Playin>Uncle John's they played at the Omni a few nights later is better. In fact the John's jam at the end of that one is wonderful. Give it a listen.

Peace.

There is always a little bit of heaven in a disaster area or whatever Wavy said.